My Last Duchess

A detailed Summary of My Last Duchess

Intro to Literature Paper II . My analysis of the setting in My Last Duchess and Dover Beach At first glance the setting of a poem is the psychological and physiological environment in which the story takes place. In some instances, the setting is used to develop the characters. Robert Browning and Matthew Arnold use the setting to expose their character traits. ?gMy Last Duchess?h and ?gDover Beach,?h respectively, portray the weaknesses of the characters using elements from the setting. The text, page 629 and 630, tells us that the setting in ?gMy Last Duchess?h displays a valuable art form that exposes his greed and cruelty. ?gDover Beach?h demonstrates changeability and impermanence. The speaker?fs solution is to establish personal fidelity as a fixture against change, dissolution, and brutality. Even though the text tells us the main use of setting in these two poems, I believe that many individual words used in the poems help describe the surroundings and the feelings that the speaker is trying to get across. Robert Browning, the author of ?gMy Last Duchess?h, uses the setting to show the Dukes greed, cruelty, and jealousy. The development of the setting begins with the Duke showing an agent for the Count of Tyrol the curtai

ned picture of his deceased Duchess. Count of Troy sent an agent in order to see if the Duke is worthy to marry his daughter. The fact that he keeps the picture behind closed curtains and deems it a privilege to view the Duke?fs last Duchess illustrates his possessiveness and greed. ?gShe thanked men--good! But thanked somehow--I know not how--as if she ranked my gift of nine-hundred-years-old name with anybody?fs gift?h. This line lends to the setting by showing his greed and how he places himself above other men according to his possessions and can not believe that she had the audacity to place ?gthe Duke?h in the same category as other men. The physical setting of this poem is revealed by phrases such as ?g That?fs my Duchess painted on the wall?h and words like ?gcurtains?h and ?gDuke?h. ?gDuke?h itself makes one think of a beautiful castle with priceless furniture and art work. The use of curtains to cover up the Duchess?f picture implies that the Duke is hiding something. The phrase mentioned above informs all that the Duke?fs past wife is dead and that by putting her picture on the wall shows the love and devotion that he had for her and will have for his future wife. Where the words of the Duke imply that he shows dedication and warm heart for the Duchess the setting reveals the true character of the Duke. ?gDover Beach?h is a poem written by

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 915
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English